William G. Hillar Special Forces FRAUD

[SouthernDZ]

The Foxnews article says...Hillar --who could face up to 20 years in prison--told the Sun he plans to return to teaching once released.

Whataguy, think of all the new stories he'll have to tell

[1stindoor]

Originally Posted by SouthernDZ

The Foxnews article says...Hillar --who could face up to 20 years in prison--told the Sun he plans to return to teaching once released.

Whataguy, think of all the new stories he'll have to tell

Hillar 101: How to fabricate your background.
Hillar 201: How to network yourself into a well paying consulting job.
Hillar 301: How to market your story into a book/movie deal.
Hillar 401: How NOT to piss of Jeff.

[Team Sergeant]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or
MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885
January 25, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/md

MILLERSVILLE MAN CHARGED IN FRAUD SCHEME

Allegedly Lied about Special Forces and Terrorism Experience
in order to Gain Teaching Employment

Baltimore, Maryland - William G. Hillar, age 66, of Millersville, Maryland, has been charged by criminal complaint with mail fraud in connection with an alleged scheme to lie about his military experience and academic credentials in order to gain employment for teaching and training. The complaint was filed on January 21, 2011 and unsealed today upon his arrest.

Hillar had an initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mildred Methvin in U.S. District Court in Baltimore. Magistrate Judge Methvin ordered that Hillar be detained after he was unable to meet the conditions set by the Judge for his release, which include having a third party custodian and a secured $50,000 bond, among other conditions.

The complaint was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Richard A. McFeely of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Special Agent in Charge Robert Craig of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service - Mid-Atlantic Field Office.

“The complaint alleges that William G. Hillar was living a lie and basing his entire career on experience he did not have and credentials that he did not earn,” said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. “He was never a colonel, never served in the U.S. Army, never was deployed to exotic locales and never received training in counter-terrorism and psychological warfare while in the armed forces.”

“The information of Mr. Hillar's alleged fraud came to the FBI's attention from concerned citizens, including former members of the Special Forces community. This investigation is an example of the difficulty the public faces trying to verify the accuracy of information on the Internet,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard A. McFeely.

According to the affidavits in support of the complaint and search warrant, Hillar has been teaching, leading workshops, giving speeches and conducting training for public and private sector clients for at least the past 10 years under false pretenses. Hillar allegedly conducted training through a business named “Bill Hillar Training” that lists a residence on Old Orchard Circle in Millersville as its business address. An internet search conducted on November 22, 2010 on a website used by the business revealed that that website was no longer in operation. However, archived web pages were found which allegedly included a biography of Bill Hillar, courses taught, client testimonials, training for public occupations and contact information. All information had previously been posted on Hillar’s web page prior to the web site being taken down. That website allegedly contained a "Bio Info" page that stated "William G. Hillar is a retired Colonel of the U.S. Army Special Forces. He has served in Asia, the Middle East, and Central and South America, where his diverse training and experiences included tactical counter-terrorism, explosive ordnance, emergency medicine and psychological warfare." It also stated that Hillar "holds a B.A. in Psychology, and M.A. in Education, a Ph.D. in Health Education, and an honorary Doctorate in Intercultural Relations."

The supporting affidavits further allege that a search of military and civilian records for Hillar in November 2010 revealed that Hillar had not served with the U.S. Army, but rather was an enlisted sailor in the U.S. Coast Guard reserves from 1962 to 1970, achieving the rate of Radarman 3. During that time, Hillar was never deployed at the locations stated on his website, nor was Hillar given any Coast Guard training in tactical counter-terrorism, explosive ordnance, emergency medicine and psychological warfare. Hillar attended the University of Oregon from 1970 to 1973, but was not awarded a Ph.D.

The affidavits further allege that most recently, since the spring of 2005, Hillar taught 12 courses/workshops at an institute for international studies in California. One such workshop was titled “Tactical Counter Terrorism.” The institute’s official who hired Hillar allegedly did so based upon Hillar’s purported work experience and academic credentials as falsely stated on the website. The institute paid Hillar by mailing checks totaling $32,300 to Hillar’s home address in Millersville. In November 2010, the institute offered free substitute courses to all students who had taken courses taught by Hillar.

According to the affidavits, evidence indicates Hillar has been paid more than $100,000 in the course of the scheme by a variety of public and private institutions, including law enforcement agencies.

Hillar faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

A complaint is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by complaint is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the FBI and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorney Leo Wise, who is prosecuting the case.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/md/Publi...audScheme.html

[Team Sergeant]

Crime & Public Safety,Maryland crimeBill Hillar case: Credit for the military fraud arrest should go to website, too
January 27, 2011 - 10:56 AM
By Sarah Larimer (Twitter @slarimer)

Earlier this week, the FBI took into custody a Maryland man who they believe lied about his military and educational background. Part of the credit for the arrest went to California students, former military men themselves, who reported Hillar to the Monterey Institute of International Studies. But part of it also belongs to a social networking website for Green Berets, which discovered problems with Bill Hillar's background last October.

"They didn't do anything. They didn't do anything until we exposed him," says Jeff Hinton, a retired Master Sergeant. "Which really irritates the snot out of us."

A thread entitled "William G. Hillar Special Forces FRAUD" appeared on the website www.professionalsoldiers.com in October.

"Another Special Forces Fraud bagged and tagged," the post reads. "If anyone would like to write some of Bill's clients and inform them of his fraud feel free. I have Bill's "Reserve Coast Guard Radarman" records."

People did write, according to Hinton. Organizations that worked with Hillar were notified by other special forces officers who visit the site, he says. The takedown began last year, when Hinton received a letter asking him to check out Hillar.

That kind of request comes in a lot, Hinton says, and he's been outed frauds before. This time, Hillar claimed to be a retired Army special forces officer, a small, elite group of soldiers, who apparently didn't remember his name.

"For him to say he's in special forces and no one knew him,' Hillar says. "That's complete cow manure."

At first, Hinton says he thought Hillar might have been part of a National Guard unit. He checked out his military records and examined his website. Among the tipoffs: the term "tactical counterterrorism," which was a course topic Hillar listed.

"There's no such thing as the term 'tactical counterterrorism,'" Hinton says.

Hillar, was taken into custody at his Millersville, Md., home Tuesday. Authorities say they also believe he faked his educational credentials.

"These guys are using our reputation to scam innocent people," Hinton says. "It really makes us angry."

Tags:Bill Hillar , Green Berets , Special Forces

http://www.tbd.com/blogs/tbd-justice...-too-7759.html

[Team Sergeant]

Professionalsoldiers.com investigation of : William G Hillar aka Bill Hillar.

Mon 10/19/2009 12:28 PM Professionalsoldiers.com receives an email from a retired Special Forces soldier at Special Forces Command asking if anyone knew who COL Bill Hillar was?

About 10/25/2009 Professionalsoldiers.com sends a FOIA request to the National Personnel Records Center( NPRC) requesting William G Hillar's military records.

11/17/2009 The request comes back from the National Personnel Records Center, they were unable to locate any record of William G Hillar.

The case goes cold for a few months as Professionalsoldiers.com is unable locate William G Hillar's date of birth or social security number for a comprehensive records search.

About 10/4/2010 Professionalsoldiers.com prepares to submit a FOIA to the United States Army Special Operations Command concerning William G Hillar.

10/4/2010 Professionalsoldiers.com submits a FOIA to the United States Army Special Operations Command concerning William G Hillar.

10/22/2010 Professionalsoldiers.com contacts P.O.W. Network - Chuck and Mary Schantag requesting assistance. Chuck and Mary Schantag respond and locate William G Hillar's military records at the NPRC. and send them to ProfessionalSoldiers.com


27 Oct 2010 Professionalsoldiers.com receives a FOIA from the United States Army Special Operations Command concerning William G Hillar. No record found concerning William G Hillar aka Bill Hillar.


28 Oct 2010 Professionalsoldiers.com exposes William G Hillar aka Bill Hillar as a complete fraud.

The documents being used by all the media were obtained by P.O.W. Network - Chuck and Mary Schantag and Professionalsoldiers.com.

Before 28 OCT 2010 no one called Special Forces COL William G Hillar aka Bill Hillar a fraud.

10/28/2010 Professionalsoldiers.com is contacted by an individual from the FBI National Academy Associates, Inc. The FBI involvement starts.

11/4/2010 4:21 PM a former female student from the Monterey Institute of International Studies sends email to Professionalsoldiers.com stating they took counterterrorist classes from Special Forces COL William G Hillar.

Mon 11/8/2010 Monterey Institute of International Studies student Brian Hubbs contacts Professionalsoldiers.com.

November 16, 2010 the first reporter contacts Professionalsoldiers.com requesting information concerning William G. Hillar. www.montereycountyweekly.com

November 18, 2010 Larry Parsons [lparsons@montereyherald.com] contacts Professionalsoldiers.com requests information on William G Hillar, why Professionalsoldiers.com called Hillar a fraud. Larry Parsons then states "I am on a deadline this afternoon." Professionalsoldiers.com does not respond kindly to Larry Parsons and Mr. Parsons then writes his "own" version of the Bill Hillar story. Many small media outlets pick up on Larry Parsons version of the Bill Hillar story.

The rest is history.
Team Sergeant

[koz]

Well done TS - Thank you for protecting the Honor of the Regiment.

[Snaquebite]

Even Army Times got the website address wrong....

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2011/0...harges-013111/

[The Reaper]

Still leads here.

TR

[Snaquebite]

TR, Good observation. Didn't click it when I read the article.

[Team Sergeant]

Alleged faker faces mail fraud charges

Claimed he was Green Beret colonel, counterterrorism expert
By Joe Gould - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Jan 31, 2011 11:55:10 EST

Lecturer William G. Hillar inspired his audience with what he said was his life story: He had tried to rescue his daughter from human traffickers and inspired the hit movie “Taken.”

He was a retired Green Beret colonel and counterterrorism expert, he said.

According to prosecutors, it was not his really his life, it was lies.

Hillar, 66, was charged with mail fraud for his alleged scheme to fake his military experience and academic credentials to gain employment for teaching and training.

The complaint was unsealed upon his arrest Jan. 25. Hillar appeared in U.S. District Court in Baltimore, where a judge ordered that he be detained in lieu of $50,000 bond.

“The complaint alleges that William G. Hillar was living a lie and basing his entire career on experience he did not have and credentials that he did not earn,” U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein said in a statement. “He was never a colonel, never served in the U.S. Army, never was deployed to exotic locales and never received training in counterterrorism and psychological warfare while in the armed forces.”

FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard A. McFeely said in a statement that Hillar's deception was revealed by members of the Special Forces community. In late October, questions were raised about Hillar’s credentials in a forum thread at professionalsoldiers.org, a website dedicated to the Special Forces community.

.
.

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2011/0...harges-013111/

[rdret1]

The worst part of this entire sham is the effect it will, or has had, on the legitimate organizations that hitched themselves to his fraud. The ripples will last a long time.

[Team Sergeant]

Looky looky at the list of organizations bill hillar scammed!!!!!!

You know those law enforcement agencies hate to see their own names on that list............



http://www.scribd.com/doc/48108667/W...lar-Indictment

[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by Team Sergeant

Looky looky at the list of organizations bill hillar scammed!!!!!!

You know those law enforcement agencies hate to see their own names on that list............



http://www.scribd.com/doc/48108667/W...lar-Indictment

Not to mention the US Army.

You would think someone at Aberdeen would have pulled his DD214 before hiring him and paying money.

TR

Originally Posted by The Reaper

Not to mention the US Army.

You would think someone at Aberdeen would have pulled his DD214 before hiring him and paying money.

TR

Not in a "point click society", you would think checking someone out would be easier today, then days long ago.

Brother, I bet you used to write requests in triplicate using carbon paper, and had them hand delivered.

[Team Sergeant]

I figure had we not exposed bill hillar when we did, at the rate he was going he would have soon become a Special Forces General and been offered and accepted the job of White House Chief of Staff......